The Rouge Coco formula is good but falls short of some of the brand’s claims, primarily hydration, which it doesn’t provide–it’s neither drying nor moisturizing. The color range is typically semi-opaque to opaque with a lightweight feel. Destinee wore for around four hours and was comfortable to wear. I think this kind of color is supremely flattering across skin tones, both in terms of undertones and color. It’s not too dark or vampy, so it won’t feel too bold against even the palest of skin, but it has enough color and oomph to complement darker skin tones, too.

The color coverage is semi-opaque–it yields a healthy amount of color, but it doesn’t completely cover my lip freckle. The finish is a soft frost; there is noticeable shimmer and sheen, but it’s not metallic or heavy. Paradis applied well enough, but it could have been a little creamier. Rouge Cocos are supposed to be moisturizing, and while I did find Charme to be more hydrating, this one was consistent with the past ones I’ve tried, which is not really moisturizing but not drying. It wore for three and a half hours.

Chanel Spring 2012: Glossimers

Bonbon is a sheer gold-shimmered pale pink. There’s no real color to it; on my lips, it provides a semi-opaque covering of shimmer. It’s similar to NARS Super Orgasm (a touch darker), Chanel Aurore (slightly more of a beige base), and Benefit I’m With the Band (more golden sheen).

Petillant is sheer and virtually colorless with white and pale pink shimmer. This is really, really subtle; unless you’re a Glossimer devotee, this one is easily skipped, because it doesn’t have as much shimmer as most Glossimers do either. It may sound harsh, but these kinds of glosses are numerous, and while having a couple in your back pocket is great for layering, it’s difficult to see nuances between them, so most of us don’t need too many of them.

Bagatelle is a light-medium, blue-based pink with gold flecks of sparkle. This one was the most pigmented with semi-opaque color coverage. The gold shimmer in this is larger than the others, so it actually felt a little gritty on the lips, compared to the smooth feel of most Glossimers. It reminded me a bit of MAC Splashing, which isn’t blue-based, and Givenchy Glamorous Fuchsia, which doesn’t have the gold sparkle.

Chanel Glossimers have certainly earned their accolades because of their comfortable, non-sticky texture and ultra-shimmering appearance. In the sunlight, these really sparkle and look like shimmering water with the amount of dazzle and shine they give off. I didn’t fully appreciate them until I saw how they looked outdoors. Indoors, they’re a little less spectacular, but they’re generally a really pretty gloss that tends to have sheer to semi-sheer color coverage but lots of shimmer. I usually find these to have a really smooth shimmer, but Bagatelle felt gritty from the get-go. I could just feel the shimmer on my lips. Bonbon wore for about two and a half hours, while Petillant disappeared within an hour and a half. Bagatelle wore the best, as it wore for four hours.

Chanel Spring 2012: Superstition Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Superstition Rouge Coco Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.12 oz.) is described as “golden beige.” It’s a semi-sheer warm, light beige with a pale golden shimmer-sheen. It has color payoff, but it’s more of a translucent color, so it allows more of the natural lip color to peek through while giving the illusion of more coverage. On my lips, it helps to even out my natural lip color and provide a subtle shimmer, but overall, it’s more my-lips-but-better in regards to color. MAC Mellow Mood has a more golden shimmer and a pinker base color. MAC Freckletone looks similar swatched but has more color payoff, so it gives a very peachy color instead. Similarly, MAC To the Future has a similar color as the swatch but opaque color coverage and a creamy finish, rather than a shimmery one.

It’s semi-sheer to semi-opaque, but it’s translucent enough that it’s definitely not an opaque lipstick. It seems to be one of the sheerer Rouge Cocos I’ve tried (more like a Rouge Coco Shine). It’s just shy of being a heavier frost. The wear time on Superstition was disappointing–only a mere hour and a half when I typically average four hours across a regular lipstick–and it wasn’t moisturizing (which is a selling feature of these lipsticks), unfortunately. They’re non-drying, at least, so I didn’t find my lips were chapped after reapplying this two or three times (I thought perhaps the short wear was a fluke!).

Chanel Spring 2012: Charme Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Charme Rouge Coco Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.12 oz.) is described as a “pink.” Sometimes brands get too creative with their color descriptions, but Chanel could afford to be less glib! It’s a soft, medium pink with very subtle blue undertones and a silver micro-shimmer that gives it a lightly frosted finish. The color payoff is semi-opaque–it gives decent color but there is some translucency in the color so your natural lip color will peek through. MAC Behave Yourself is similar but applies less evenly and perhaps a touch lighter. Dolce & Gabbana Fascination is similar in hue but several shades darker. MAC Speed Dial is a bit darker and has a golden sheen.

The Rouge Coco formula is supposed to be hydrating and have wearable shades with “full-coverage finishes.” Charme is not quite opaque, but it felt more moisturizing than many past Rouge Cocos have felt for me. When I tested this shade, it wore for around three and a half hours before it began to noticeably fade away, but my lips felt just shy of normal in terms of hydration.